Duleek Bellewstown 2-8 Ballivor 0-13

Needing to secure a win by a two-point margin, Duleek-Bellewstown faced off against Ballivor in Batterstown in Round 3 of the Intermediate Championship.  

Ballivor made a quick start to the game, notching up two points in the first five minutes. To make matters worse for DB, midfielder Shane Crosby picked up an injury and was replaced by James McGarvey after 2 minutes. Despite the early setbacks, Cían Flanagan’s men settled well and responded superbly with a free from John Flood and a really well-taken goal by James McGarvey on 7 minutes. DB increased their lead to three points on 10 minutes, with an Eoghan Heeney free after some great lead up play by Eamonn Armstrong and Oisín Miland. DB were now enjoying a good deal of possession with Robin Clarke and Darren Heeney providing the spark. The pace in the DB team and direct running style was causing major problems for the Ballivor defence. DB had a missed goal chance on 13 minutes which could have put some daylight between the teams and altered the complexion of the game. The second DB goal arrived on 19 minutes with Alan Bowden using all of his composure to hit the net to give DB a lead of 2-2 to 0-4. DB had to defend resolutely with Cianán Byrne using all of his experience and Cían Ryan back in the starting fifteen for the first time in a number of months. James McGarvey got his second score of the game with a mark on 22 minutes after a great kick out from Ryan Lynch and supporting run by Tom Bowden. Eoghan Heeney recorded his second point of the game with a point on 24 minutes after fine work from Sam O’Leary and Jamie Crosby. DB tried to control the play in the last few minutes of the first half, but a well taken Brendan McKeown free for Ballivor made the score 2-4 to 0-6 at the interval in favour of Duleek-Bellewstown.

Ballivor made the better start to the second half with a couple of successful frees narrowing the gap on the score board. Ballivor were starting to win a lot of frees around the pitch, partly due to some indiscipline in the DB play. DB got their score board ticking again on 41 minutes with a great point from play from Robin Clarke. However, Ballivor were notching up the scores and were nearly in for a goal, only for Ryan Lynch to pull off a superb point blank save with 47 minutes gone, with Colm Regan clearing out the danger after the blocked shot. James McGarvey’s well taken third score of the game on 51 minutes was followed by a succession of Ballivor scores. An Eoghan Heeney free on 55 minutes, after some Cianán Byrne and Oisín Miland build-up play ensured DB were keeping their bid to reach the knockout stage on track. Tom Bowden got his first score of the game on 63 minutes but in the end it was the high number of frees conceded that cost DB dearly. The final score of 2-8 to 0-13 in favour of Duleek-Bellewstown was just one point short of that required to reach the quarter finals, with Ballivor outscoring DB by 7 points to 4 points in the second half.

Winning two out of three group games and not reaching the quarter final stage will be a source of major disappointment. However, Duleek-Bellewstown will look to regroup over the coming weeks. The level of talent and potential available to Cían Flanagan and his selectors should ensure they maintain their Intermediate status heading into 2025.

Best of luck to Ballivor GFC and Castletown GFC in the quarter final stage of the championship.

Duleek Bellewstown: Ryan Lynch, Sam O’Leary, Colm Regan, Cian Ryan, Oisín Miland, Cianán Byrne, Robin Clarke (0-1), Shane Crosby, Tom Bowden (0-1), Darren Heeney, Alan Bowden (1-0), Eamonn Armstrong, John Flood (0-1), Jamie Crosby, Eoghan Heeney (0-3).

Subs used: James McGarvey (1-2; 2 mins), James McWeeney (39 mins), Brian Fitzpatrick (49 mins)

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